Premera Newshttp://premeranews.com
Thu, 26 Feb 2015 22:14:20 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1A Mom’s Advice for Finding a Pediatricianhttp://premeranews.com/2015/02/26/moms-advice-pediatrician/
http://premeranews.com/2015/02/26/moms-advice-pediatrician/#commentsThu, 26 Feb 2015 22:14:20 +0000http://premeranews.com/?p=4406When you’re expecting, finding a pediatrician is just one of many complex items on your “to do” list before your baby arrives. Is there any way to make this task a little easier?

Beyond these basics, how can you be sure you’re selecting the right doctor for your growing family? We asked Premera’s Dana Robertson Halter, a mother of two young children, for her advice to new moms or any parents who need help finding a pediatrician.

Consult a Trusted Source

If you like your obstetrician, start there for a recommendation on pediatricians in your area. You can also check reviews and ratings — like “Seattle Magazine’s” annual Top Doctors list, nominated by doctors in the Puget Sound region.

But the most helpful suggestions, Dana said, may come from friends, family and other parents. So talk to people you know about the pediatricians they use. If you’re a new parent or new to your area, you can find parenting groups online through social networking sites like Facebook or Meetup. You can also find in-person gatherings of parents and caregivers with young children, including fitness or play groups sponsored by local hospitals or your insurance company.

“Everybody wants to help you,” Dana said. And the important thing, is to ‘find your people’ — the types of people who share similar values and whose advice you can trust.

When you have a few suggested names from other parents, you can run them by your OB or primary care doctor to see what they know about the physician or their practice.

Think About Your Needs

Finding a pediatrician is as much about what you need as what your son or daughter needs. “Peace of mind comes from partnering with a provider who cares about you and cares about your child,” Dana said.

You may consider choosing a family physician that will care for your whole family and see your children into adulthood. But if you want to take advantage of specialized care, such as help with developmental issues, lactation support and prenatal classes, a pediatrician may be a better choice.

When you’re thinking about a particular pediatrician, evaluate the doctor’s whole practice, not just the caregiver you’ll see on a regular basis. You’ll be interacting with other people on staff, during off hours or when your doctor is on vacation. Be sure to ask about office hours and how to reach someone if you have a problem when the office is closed. Also, accept that when you have an emergency, you may need to see a different doctor. That’s where feeling good about a clinic or practice makes a difference, Dana said.

Schedule meet-and-greet appointments, starting about three months before your baby arrives, to check out your options. Ask questions like these:

How far in advance do I need to schedule an appointment?

How easy is it to see my chosen practitioner?

What are the general philosophies of the doctors in the practice?

What should I expect in the first six months after my baby arrives?

Don’t waste time on a practice that doesn’t feel right or makes you doubt yourself.

As Dana put it, “When you’re stressed and you don’t know what’s going on, the last thing you need is someone who doesn’t get you or makes you feel worse.”

Rely on your instincts and the advice of those you trust, and you’ll find a doctor who offers the kind of care your family needs. If you’re a Premera member and ready to get started with finding a pediatrician near you, use our Find A Doctor tool to determine who’s in your plan’s network.

]]>http://premeranews.com/2015/02/26/moms-advice-pediatrician/feed/0Placing a Sharper Focus on Four Key Areas in 2015http://premeranews.com/2015/02/25/sharper-focus-four-key-areas/
http://premeranews.com/2015/02/25/sharper-focus-four-key-areas/#commentsWed, 25 Feb 2015 22:59:06 +0000http://premeranews.com/?p=4401In a contributed article with the Spokane Journal of Business, Vice President and General Manager of Premera Blue Cross’ Washington Group Market, Bill Akers, explains in detail four key areas that Premera will focus on in 2015. He outlines that customer satisfaction, wellness, health care delivery and additional self-funding options will all be areas of priority for the company.

“As we look at the year ahead, this is certain: the health care system is changing, and Premera is focused on guiding customers through that process and helping make their experience in that system better.”

]]>http://premeranews.com/2015/02/25/sharper-focus-four-key-areas/feed/0Q&A: What It’s Like to Live with Type 2 Diabeteshttp://premeranews.com/2015/02/10/qa-what-its-like-to-live-with-type-2-diabetes/
http://premeranews.com/2015/02/10/qa-what-its-like-to-live-with-type-2-diabetes/#commentsTue, 10 Feb 2015 12:00:51 +0000http://premeranews.com/?p=4367A “Do you have diabetes?” poster hung next to an elevator in Premera Manager Kelly Jones’s office. By the time the elevator arrived and she stepped in, she had read the poster a couple times — and thought the warning signs sounded familiar.

Months earlier, her doctor advised that she was considered “pre-diabetic.” He was monitoring her A1c, which measures average blood sugar level over a three-month period, and he recommended she get more exercise and improve her diet. Jones made an effort, but was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic at her next visit.

We asked Jones to share her experience as a diabetic, and offer tips to help others manage this condition, experienced by 30 million Americans.

Q: What symptoms of diabetes were listed on the poster?

A: Excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, tiredness, blurred vision or tingling in your hands and feet. It was around Halloween, and I was eating too much candy at the office. So what I was calling “fuzzy brain” was actually a symptom of diabetes. And I was really thirsty.

Q: Simply stated, what is diabetes?

There are two types of diabetes: type 1, where your body is unable to make insulin; and type 2, where your body is unable to properly use the insulin it makes. When your body doesn’t have enough insulin, you can’t move glucose from your blood to the cells, and then you don’t get the nutrients your body needs for energy. Type 2 diabetes is also often genetic, as in my case.

Q: What risk factors did you have?

A: The extra weight I was carrying was one factor, but not the only one — many people with type 2 diabetes are a normal weight or only moderately overweight. In my case, both my dad and sister have diabetes, so it was in my family history.

Q: What have you found is the best approach to managing diabetes?

A: For anyone, eating healthy and exercise are keys to better health. For a person with diabetes, it’s vital to find a balance between eating the right foods and getting enough exercise to keep your blood sugar levels in check. But too often, I let things other than my health take priority. When that happens, I don’t plan my meals, I blow off a daily walk or Zumba class, or I forget my medications.

Q: What happens if you don’t manage it well?

I can tell when my blood sugar levels are too high over a period of time. It’s harder to stay focused, my vision can get blurry, and I’m thirsty. The scary part is that I know this can lead to serious complications — blindness, nerve damage in my legs or feet, higher risk for a stroke or heart attack, losing my kidneys. You’d think that would be enough to keep me on the straight and narrow! But it’s not always that easy.

Q: What’s the hardest part about living with diabetes?

A: The fact that there’s no break from the disease. I have diabetes 24/7, 365 days a year. Managing what I eat is a constant challenge, especially when there are potato chips nearby. And honestly, I hate cooking and I’m always looking for easy recipes. I can make sandwiches or pasta — but those foods aren’t always the best choice for someone with diabetes. Also, it’s really frustrating when I find myself going to McDonald’s drive-thru, buying food that I know I shouldn’t eat. Too often, I eat the wrong thing when I’m hungry and in a hurry.

Q: What suggestions do you have for others with diabetes?

A: There are two. First, put together a support network. My family, friends, doctor, nurse practitioner, nutritionist and counselor — they’re always trying to help me. There’s also a diabetes support group at work. I’ve learned so much and felt less alone sharing successes and challenges.

Also, get educated about diabetes. Each person’s body reacts differently. My older sister can take oral medication and manages beautifully — and she’s never been the exercise/active type.

But for me, it takes oral medications, insulin, about 15,000–18,000 steps a day and cutting out simple carbs to keep it under control. Frustrating. It’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all disease.
Q: Any quick tips that have helped you?

A: I don’t like to cook, and even chopping up vegetables can be a challenge! So my sister-in-law took me to a “how to use knives” class. I learned what knives to use for what purpose and how to position vegetables and fruit to chop them.

I’ve also learned to use FitBit, and I love challenging myself to walk a certain number of steps or increase steps each day with my family and friends. I like using the EveryMove app, where I record activities (from walking to cleaning the house) for points. When I’ve earned 500 points, I get a reward!

]]>http://premeranews.com/2015/02/10/qa-what-its-like-to-live-with-type-2-diabetes/feed/06 Easy Ways to Fit Exercise Into Your Workdayhttp://premeranews.com/2015/02/09/6-easy-ways-to-fit-exercise-into-your-workday/
http://premeranews.com/2015/02/09/6-easy-ways-to-fit-exercise-into-your-workday/#commentsMon, 09 Feb 2015 19:45:18 +0000http://premeranews.com/?p=4362You might think that cranking out a gym session is the quickest path to a healthy body weight. But according to research done by the Mayo Clinic, finding simple ways to move during the day might be a better way to fend off obesity.

When you’re spending lots of your day at work, finding chances to move may not seem too simple — but it is! Here are six easy ways to fit exercise into your workday:

Move Around the Office

Look for chances to leave your desk, even if it’s just for a minute. Drop by a coworker’s desk instead of emailing them. Leave something you’ll need later — like part of your lunch — in your car so you have to go get it. When you head to the printer or water cooler, take an extra lap around the floor or walk down the hall and back. The extra activity keeps your metabolism humming, your joints loose and your mind clear.

Take a Walk

Walking can trim your waistline, lower your blood pressure and stave off heart disease.. So stash some sneakers in your desk, pack food you can eat on the go and head out for a lunchtime walk. A 30-minute jaunt at a normal pace will burn through about 160 calories — and help you relax on stressful days.

Use the Stairs

Taking the stairs instead of the elevator gives you a quick burst of cardio, even if you’re only doing a couple flights. Start by using the bathroom on a different floor and taking the stairs each way. When that feels normal, up the challenge by taking two steps at a time. You’ll burn about five calories for each flight of stairs you cover, and it won’t be long before you feel stronger and ready to tackle a few more floors on foot.

Keep a Bike at Work

Cycling is great exercise that’s easy on your bones and joints — and no, you don’t have to buy spandex pants or become a hard-core commuter to make it part of your day. More and more offices are making bike cages available in parking areas or somewhere on the premises. If your building has one, keep a bike there and head out for a short ride in your work clothes. Just 30 minutes of easy riding can knock off about 160 calories and strengthen your back, legs and cardiovascular system.

• Sit on an exercise ball instead of a chair to strengthen your core.
• Use a couple of full water bottles as dumbbells and squeeze off some arm curls.
• Stand up and do 10 calf raises.
• Set an hourly reminder on your phone and do five minutes of exercise every time it goes off.

You’ll get an extra 30 minutes of activity before you know it!

Add a Walk to Your Commute

We’re usually looking to make our commutes shorter, not longer. But think of it this way: Tacking on just five blocks of walking to and from work adds up to about half a mile every day. If you drive to work, try walking a lap around your building before you go inside. If you ride the bus, hop off a stop or two early. It will help you start — and end — the day with an active lift.

]]>http://premeranews.com/2015/02/09/6-easy-ways-to-fit-exercise-into-your-workday/feed/0Worried About Measles? Here’s How To Protect Your Familyhttp://premeranews.com/2015/02/08/worried-about-measles-heres-how-to-protect-your-family/
http://premeranews.com/2015/02/08/worried-about-measles-heres-how-to-protect-your-family/#commentsSun, 08 Feb 2015 18:10:43 +0000http://premeranews.com/?p=4357Some West Coast families who recently visited Disneyland are now realizing that they came home with a lot more than photographs and memories. Measles, a preventable and harmful disease that had been virtually eliminated in the U.S., is back.

The recent measles outbreak clarifies the importance of vaccinations — not just for your family, but for the broader community. We talked with Dr. Neil Kaneshiro, a pediatrician and medical director at Premera, about how parents can protect themselves and their family from measles and other preventable diseases.

Importance of Immunizations

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that, because of immunization, has become very rare. Recently, though, we’re seeing measles in children and adults who have not been vaccinated (or properly vaccinated) against it.

“There is virtually no reason for a parent not to vaccinate their child,” says Kaneshiro. “The health of our entire community depends on the population being vaccinated. Simply put, the more people who are vaccinated, the harder it is for a life-threatening disease to spread.” And on the other side of that coin: The more people who aren’t vaccinated, the easier it is for life-threatening diseases to spread.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, before the measles vaccine was licensed in 1963, it sickened four million people a year. Of those, 48,000 people were hospitalized and 500 died from the disease. “In particular, measles can be devastating to babies, pregnant women and the elderly,” Dr. Kaneshiro says.

According to him, anytime you delay a vaccine, you put your child and others at risk. If you get measles, the risks include high fever, rash, brain dysfunctions and, potentially, death. Before the vaccine, the risk of death was much higher. So maintaining high immunization rates is very important for minimizing the risk of death.

Child Vaccinations Schedule

A child should receive appropriate shots as soon as they are recommended, or if there is a risk of exposure. A cold or ear infection generally is not a good reason to delay getting a child immunized, Kaneshiro says.

For children, the measles immunization (called MMR) is a two-shot series:

The first shot should be given to children between the ages of 12 months and 18 months; this provides about 95% protection.

The second shot may be given anytime at least one month after the first shot. Usually it’s around ages 4-6 years (before kindergarten, ideally). This provides about 99% protection against the infection.

Recommendations for Adults

Most adults born before 1957 are considered immune to measles, thus no action is needed.

If you were born in 1957 or later, you should receive at least one dose of the MMR vaccine.

If you’re unsure whether you’ve had the proper immunizations, check with your doctor for a thorough review of the vaccines available and to see if your health record indicates anything needs to be updated. For instance, there are a handful of booster shots for both kids and adults that you may need.

In addition, your doctor’s office staff can check the “national immunization register” to see if you’ve had your vaccinations. There’s also a list of recommended immunizations online at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), arranged by age, for both children and adults.

Traveling With Children

If you’re traveling outside the U.S. in an area where measles is more prevalent and/or there’s a known risk of exposure, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about the proper vaccinations that can be given to you and your children beforehand.

“Although the MMR shot is given to children at roughly 12 to 18 months and again at four to six years, you may want to get the shot earlier, or at least one of the vaccinations before traveling overseas,” says Dr. Kaneshiro.

Safeguarding our members’ personal, financial and medical information is one of our top priorities. Anthem Inc., a separate company from Premera that is also an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, recently suffered a cyber-attack which has been widely reported in the media. We are working with Anthem and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association to understand how this incident may affect our members. We’ll update our blog as we receive more information.

Does this affect Premera members?
If you have received medical services in a state where Anthem operates, either because you live in one of those states or because you received medical care while traveling, your data may be affected. Those states are:

Colorado

Nevada

Connecticut

Georgia

Indiana

Kentucky

Maine

Missouri

New Hampshire

Ohio

Virginia

Wisconsin

California

New York

Why would Anthem have my data?
Premera is part of the national network of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Being part of that network allows our members to access care across the country. If you receive care outside of Premera’s home states of Washington and Alaska, the local Blue plan for that state may be involved in processing your claim. If you receive healthcare services in one of the states listed above, your healthcare provider may share your information with Anthem to allow them to process your claim.

How will I know if I’ve been affected?
Premera has received data from Anthem, which is currently being processed, and we’ll notify affected members as soon as possible. There may be a small number of members whose Social Security numbers may have been included in the hacked data and we plan to reach out personally to them. Social Security numbers are not generally included in member records so we expect a very small number of members to have been affected. If your information has been affected you will be notified in the next few weeks and you’ll be offered free identity protection and credit monitoring services.
What kind of information may have been accessed as part of this attack?
The information that was accessed may include members’ names, addresses, social security numbers, email addresses, employer information and telephone numbers. However, not all of this information would have been stored in Anthem’s systems for every member. Currently we believe that no credit card information or medical information was accessed.

What is Premera doing to keep my data safe?
Premera has a dedicated IT security team who is constantly working to safeguard our members’ data and we continue to examine our systems and security measures to safeguard against these risks.

Protecting your personal information
If your data was accessed during this attack you’ll be receiving a letter to offer free identify protection and credit monitoring services. But there are also steps that you can take to safeguard your data.

Keep an eye on your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements. If you see suspicious claims, contact Premera immediately, using the number on the back of your ID card.

Log in to Premera.com and register for electronic EOBs. This will allow you to view and monitor your EOBs online.

Be wary of emails you receive that claim to be related to this incident. You will notified by written letter if you have been affected. Scam or phishing emails may try to use this incident to obtain your personal data.

Place a fraud alert on your credit report. This alert lasts 90 days and will make it more difficult for a fraudster to open accounts in your name. Here’s information on how to place a fraud alert.

Make sure your online information is secure with strong passwords. Although no password information was accessed in this attack, having access to your personal data can make it easier for hackers to gain access to your online accounts. Here’s more information on how to create a strong password.

Watch out for Anthem breach-related scam emails
You may receive scam emails designed to capture personal information (known as “phishing”) which suggest they are offering free credit monitoring. These emails are NOT from Anthem. If you receive such an email you should follow these steps to safeguard your personal information:

DO NOT click on any links in the email.

DO NOT reply to the email or reach out to the senders in any way.

DO NOT supply any information on the website that may open if you click on a link in the email.

DO NOT open any attachments that arrive with the email.

Remember: Neither Premera or Anthem will ever contact you and ask for credit card information or social security numbers either over the phone or by email. You should always be wary when asked to share your personal data with an organization who contacts you. If you have been affected by this attack, you’ll be notified via U.S. postal service with information about how to enroll in free credit monitoring and ID protection services.

Credit Monitoring and Identity Repair Services for Affected Members
Members who are concerned that their data may have been accessed during this attack will be able to sign up for two years of free credit monitoring and identity repair services. As of February 13, 2015, members can access these services at www.anthemfacts.com. Any concerned member of a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, including Premera members, will be able to access these services and do not need to wait for notification that they were affected. In addition, once we have been able to identify exactly which members have been affected, those members will receive a letter from Premera with more information. It’s important to remember that most Premera members will not have been affected by this attack. You may have been affected if you received services in the states listed above.

The free identity protection services provided for members two years of:

Identity Repair Assistance: Should a member experience fraud, an investigator will do the work to recover financial losses, restore the member’s credit, and ensure the member’s identity is returned to its proper condition. This assistance will cover any fraud that has occurred since the incident first began.

Credit Monitoring: At no cost, members may also enroll in additional protections, including credit monitoring. Credit monitoring alerts consumers when banks and creditors use their identity to open new credit accounts.

Child Identity Protection: Child-specific identity protection services will also be offered to any members with children insured through their Premera plan.

Identity theft insurance: For individuals who enroll, the company has arranged for $1,000,000 in identity theft insurance, where allowed by law.

Identity theft monitoring/fraud detection: For members who enroll, data such as credit card numbers, social security numbers and emails will be scanned against aggregated data sources maintained by top security researchers that contain stolen and compromised individual data, in order to look for any indication that the members’ data has been compromised.

Phone Alerts: Individuals who register for this service and provide their contact information will receive an alert when there is a notification from a credit bureau, or when it appears from identity theft monitoring activities that the individual’s identity may be compromised.

]]>http://premeranews.com/2015/02/06/how-anthem-data-breach-could-impact-premera-members/feed/2It’s Not Too Late to Get Insurance Before Open Enrollment Endshttp://premeranews.com/2015/02/05/its-not-too-late-to-get-insurance-before-open-enrollment-ends/
http://premeranews.com/2015/02/05/its-not-too-late-to-get-insurance-before-open-enrollment-ends/#commentsThu, 05 Feb 2015 18:20:29 +0000http://premeranews.com/?p=4338If you haven’t chosen an individual health plan for 2015, time is running out.
You have until Feb. 15, 2015 to purchase or renew a plan. As a reminder, you are required to have health insurance unless you are:

• adequately covered through your employer
• on a parent’s plan (until age 26)
• on Medicaid, Medicare, or other government health insurance programs
• eligible for an exemption

You won’t be able to get coverage from February 16 until October 2015 except under special circumstances, such as a family or job change.

Avoid the Fee for Not Being Insured

If you’re not covered for at least 9 months in 2015, you’ll pay a penalty—a monetary fine assessed when you file your tax return in 2016. The 2015 penalty is:

• $325 per adult and $162.50 per child (up to $975 for a family)
• 2% of your household income, after you subtract the amount that is above the income level where you begin to owe taxes (your filing threshold)

The penalty rises to 2.5% in 2016. Use this Tax Policy Center calculator to gauge the impact on your pocketbook.

Beat the deadline and avoid paying a penalty by following these three steps:
1. Get Ready to Enroll

You can simplify getting enrolled by gathering the information you need, and figuring out what type of coverage best matches your needs. Before enrolling online or by phone, have key information at your side as your complete your purchase such as social security numbers, last year’s W-2 or tax return, and personal and medical info.

2. Check Out Financial Assistance

More than half of Washington residents can get financial help paying for their health insurance, which could reduce monthly premiums and/or out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits and prescriptions.

Washington individuals and families who earn between 100 and 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL) may qualify. For example, a single individual could get the tax credit with an income up to $46,680; for a family of four, up to $95,400. Here’s a quick subsidy-eligibility reference table showing income ranges based on family size.

With your income info at hand, you can determine if you qualify by entering your personal and income information at Washington Healthplanfinder, after you’ve created an account.

Another option: call 877-PREMERA. Our representatives will help you through the entire process of determining your eligibility, making your application, and completing your purchase of a Premera plan through Washington Healthplanfinder.

Finally, if you had problems buying or renewing a plan through Washington Healthplanfinder back in December 2014 for January 1 coverage, the state exchange might allow you to get retroactive coverage. That’s because technical issues on the state exchange site may have kept thousands from completing transactions for January coverage.

You can apply for retroactive coverage before February 23 by calling the exchange.
3. Buy or Renew Direct Without Financial Help

If you’re not eligible for financial assistance and renewing a non-subsidy plan, you can buy directly from your health insurance company. If you’re considering Premera, check out our plans, get a quote, shop online, or call our reps at 877-PREMERA. Extended hours are:

If you have questions about re-enrolling in your health plan, changing plans or finding out whether you qualify for tax credits this year, call Premera or read the Health Plan Basics section at Premera.com

]]>http://premeranews.com/2015/02/05/its-not-too-late-to-get-insurance-before-open-enrollment-ends/feed/0How Your Health Plan Will Affect Your Tax Returnhttp://premeranews.com/2015/02/02/how-your-health-plan-will-affect-your-tax-return/
http://premeranews.com/2015/02/02/how-your-health-plan-will-affect-your-tax-return/#commentsMon, 02 Feb 2015 22:04:29 +0000http://premeranews.com/?p=4329Almost everyone’s impacted this year by new tax return reporting requirements that are part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the health insurance reform law also known as “Obamacare.” Here’s what you will do when filing your 2014 income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service.

Verify You Had Coverage

All Americans now must report that they have health insurance – for example, coverage purchased direct from an insurance company, the state marketplace (Washington Healthplanfinder), their employer, parent’s plan, Medicaid, Medicare TRICARE or COBRA. Reason: the ACA’s “individual mandate” requires that you have at least basic coverage (minimum essential coverage) for at least nine months of each year. It’s as simple as checking a box on one line of your return.

Pay Penalty If You Did Not

If you did not have health insurance for at least nine months in 2014 — and you don’t qualify for an exemption from the IRS — you’ll pay a penalty when filing your return. The 2014 penalty is the greater of:

• $95 per adult and $47.50 per child (up to $285 for a family)
• 1% of your household income, after you subtract the amount that is above the income level where you begin to owe taxes (filing threshold). For example, that amount is $10,150 for single filers under age 65. A tax penalty calculator is available online.

If you’ve been granted an exemption from a penalty, you’ll need to complete Form 8965 and report that on your federal income tax return.

Report a Washington Healthplanfinder Account

If you enrolled in a 2014 health plan through Washington Healthplanfinder (regardless of whether you got federal financial help), you must file a federal income tax return if anyone in your household received an advance premium tax credit or wants to claim a tax credit for 2014.

By early February, Washington Healthplanfinder should mail you a completed Form 1095-A, also known as the Health Insurance Marketplace Statement. Your health insurance company will NOT be sending you this statement. This new IRS form will give you the information needed to complete your 2014 income tax return.

Form 1095-A includes health plan information such as who was covered on the plan, your monthly premium, how many months you had coverage, and any advance payments of the premium tax credit that may have been paid to your health plan on your behalf in 2014.

It’s best to wait until you receive Form 1095-A before filing your taxes, because you can’t be sure your tax refund or the amount you owe will be accurate. With the information, you may wish to claim additional tax credits that you are entitled to or reconcile the tax credits with what you’ve already received.

Reconcile Your Tax Credit

When you complete your 2014 federal income tax form, you’ll know what your actual 2014 income was – it may be higher or lower than your estimate. You’ll use IRS Form 8962 to reconcile the difference:

• If the amount of tax credit payments you used in advance during 2014 is less than the tax credit you’re due, you may get the difference as a refund when you file your tax return, depending on the final amount of taxes you owe.
• If the amount of tax credit payments you used in advance for the year is more than the tax credit you’re due, you’ll pay the difference with your tax return when you file your taxes.

Where You Can Get Help

You’ll find a variety of resources online with information on how your health insurance coverage affects your tax filing, along with all the forms you might need, at Healthcare.gov. In addition, if you qualify you might use these free resources:

• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) – tax preparation assistance through IRS locations.
• IRS Free File provides free software programs, and a variety of forms, tools, useful links and videos to help you file your taxes online.
]]>http://premeranews.com/2015/02/02/how-your-health-plan-will-affect-your-tax-return/feed/0Get Help Paying for Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costshttp://premeranews.com/2015/01/27/get-help-paying-for-out-of-pocket-healthcare-costs/
http://premeranews.com/2015/01/27/get-help-paying-for-out-of-pocket-healthcare-costs/#commentsTue, 27 Jan 2015 23:28:35 +0000http://premeranews.com/?p=4321Have you put off signing up for a health plan because you’re worried about how much it costs to use insurance? You may be surprised to know you can get financial help — not just with your monthly premiums but also with out-of-pocket expenses, including your annual deductible and/or copays for doctor visits and prescriptions.

What’s known as “cost-sharing reduction” lowers the amount you pay when you use your insurance. It also reduces your out-of-pocket maximum (the maximum amount you will personally spend in a given year before your insurance covers 100 percent of certain expenses). Read on to learn more about this kind of financial assistance and how you can use it to save money on healthcare.

Pay Less to Use Your Health Plan

In general, what your health plan does is divvy up the costs of medical care between you and your insurance provider. Cost-sharing subsidies shift that arrangement so that you pay less and your insurance provider pays more.

For example, if a visit to the doctor usually requires a $30 copay, the cost-sharing subsidy can lower your copay to as little as $10. In a similar way, the subsidy can lower what you’re required to pay for prescriptions, diagnostic tests and other treatments.

Who Qualifies for Cost-Sharing Reduction?

Tax credits and other savings available from the federal government are based on your household income and family size. This holds true for cost-sharing — as well as for the most widely available form of financial help: the premium tax credit.

As the name suggests, this subsidy lowers the cost of your monthly premium (your monthly bill for having health insurance). A single Washingtonian with an annual household income between $11,670 and $46,680 might be eligible for the premium tax credit.

Cost-sharing reductions work a little differently. First of all, they’re available only to people and families with Silver-level health plans purchased through Washington Healthplanfinder. Secondly, to qualify for a cost-sharing reduction, your income must be at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. The maximum eligible income for an individual is $29,175, and for a family of four it’s $59,625.

With cost-sharing reduction, the closer your income is to the federal poverty level, the more your out-of-pocket costs are reduced. So while a normal Silver-level plan will require you to pay about 30 percent of your covered expenses, cost-sharing makes it so that a family of four with an annual income less than $35,775 (150 percent of the poverty level) pays approximately 6 percent. And that percentage is even lower for people and families whose incomes are lower.

How to Get a Plan if You Qualify

As mentioned above, cost-sharing benefits are only available on Silver-level plans purchased through Washington Healthplanfinder. What is a Silver plan?

Under the Affordable Care Act, health plans are labeled according to how costs are split between you and your insurance company. These plans are sometimes referred to as “metallic” plans, because of the names of the categories — Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Before you buy a plan, learn more about the differences between plans in our Health Plan Basics section.

If you want more help, Premera can work directly with Washington Healthplanfinder to help you find out if you qualify for financial help, choose a plan and apply for your tax credit.

Don’t wait too long to take advantage of financial help buying and using health insurance. Open enrollment ends Feb. 15, 2015, and penalties for not having a plan increase each year.

To buy a Premera plan (either with or without federal financial help), you can call 877-PREMERA (773-6372) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; or 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturdays.

A Premera representative can determine whether you’ll get financial help paying for your plan, and can even complete the purchase for you through Washington Healthplanfinder. You can also shop for a plan on our website.

]]>http://premeranews.com/2015/01/27/get-help-paying-for-out-of-pocket-healthcare-costs/feed/0What’s the Best Diet To Achieve a Healthy Weight?http://premeranews.com/2015/01/16/whats-the-best-diet-to-achieve-a-healthy-weight/
http://premeranews.com/2015/01/16/whats-the-best-diet-to-achieve-a-healthy-weight/#commentsFri, 16 Jan 2015 01:10:32 +0000http://premeranews.com/?p=4308If going on a diet is one of your New Year’s Resolutions (like it is for many of us!), you’re probably wondering which of the many options out there is right for you. Cutting carbs? Reducing sugar? Going Paleo?

Wonder no more. We’ll break down the pros and cons of some popular diets to help you find the healthiest way to lose weight.

Good to know

But first, let’s discuss a few important things about diets in general. Number one: Weight loss is commonly followed by rapid weight gain. In fact, rapid weight loss often means losing lean muscle, and when you start gaining weight again it’s often pure excess, as opposed to restoring that muscle. So you can actually end up heavier than your starting weight.

Also, some diets may claim to speed up metabolism, but current science doesn’t indicate that such a thing really happens. So whatever the details of a particular diet, what you’re really getting out of it is a set of “food rules” that help you eat fewer calories overall. In general, the best way to do that is to go slow and steady — losing no more than two pounds a week.

But the question still remains: What are the best “food rules”? Let’s find out.

Low-carb diets

The Atkins diet is one famous example, but the premise of every low-carb diet is this: Eating fewer carbohydrates in favor of protein and fat will trigger your body to access fat stores and burn more calories. Many advocates also believe that eating more protein improves satiety (a fancy word for “feeling full”). The Paleo diet is another one that restricts carbs, by eliminating grains and refined sugar (as well as other foods not available to humans during the Paleolithic era).

So are low-carb diets effective?

Well, when compared to a more moderate approach — such as the Mediterranean diet, explained below — initial weight loss is often higher. But remember: Weight loss is ideally a slow and steady process. And over the course of a year, people on a more moderate weight loss plan tend to lose the same amount of weight as people on a low-carb plan. What’s more, people on a moderate plan retain more muscle mass and report better mood states.

Take-home: Some people may find low-carb diets helpful, because they restrict one macronutrient, which can be easier than counting calories for every item in every meal. But on a more moderate meal plan that incorporates high-quality carbohydrates, you can lose the same amount of weight — in a way that is healthier overall.

Glycemic index diets

What’s the glycemic index (GI)? It’s a scale from 0 to 100 that measures how much and how rapidly a food will raise your blood sugar. Foods like brown rice, lentils and non-starchy vegetables have values closer to zero, while foods like white bread and other refined carbohydrates have values close to 100. Foods with a high GI result in blood sugar spikes, which are not ideal: The blood sugar roller coaster may result in overconsuming calories, and studies have also found an association between eating lots of high-glycemic foods and increased risk for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

So a diet that focuses on low-GI foods is a good one, right?

Unfortunately, the glycemic index doesn’t tell the whole story. The number is affected by lots of things, including how a food is processed (al dente pasta has a lower GI than well-cooked) and the amount of fat and protein it contains. Whole milk, for example, has a low glycemic index but is still high in calories — which isn’t necessarily helpful if you’re trying to lose weight. So while a low-GI diet is good for maintaining steady blood sugar levels, the results in achieving weight loss have been mixed.

Take-home: Watching the glycemic index may be beneficial as part of a bigger weight loss solution that also pays attention to portion sizes. With an emphasis on whole foods (including non-starchy vegetables), this more moderate approach can result in safe weight loss and can reduce the risk of chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes.

Mediterranean diet

We’ll just come out and say it: This is your best choice. The Mediterranean diet focuses on whole foods and is primarily plant-based. It emphasizes lots of fruits and vegetables, whole-grain sources of carbohydrate, healthy fats and high-quality lean protein. Fish is encouraged two times per week, and red meat and refined carbohydrates are limited. The emphasis on vegetables, fruits and whole grains naturally favors foods with a low glycemic index — without worrying about remembering any numbers.

Fat is one of the biggest differences between this diet and others. The American Heart Association says that fat should account for less than 30 percent of total calories, and the Mediterranean usually goes a bit beyond that — 35 to 40 percent of total calories. The emphasis, though, is on unsaturated fats from foods such as olive oil, nuts, seeds and fish. These particular fats are thought to offer many health benefits, including protecting the heart and helping brain function.

When it comes to weight loss, studies have shown the Mediterranean diet to be successful — in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity . This holistic approach is ideal for losing and maintaining weight, as well as for lowering the risk of chronic disease.

Take-home: The Mediterranean diet is one of the top picks for safe weight loss and improved health. There are many websites and cookbooks available to help anyone interested in this approach.

Heather Snively, MS, RD, is a nutrition and wellness manager at Guckenheimer, an on-site corporate restaurant management and catering company. She received her Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Washington in 2011. Heather is passionate about helping others determine the best way to enjoy food and stay healthy. Her food philosophy is simple: moderation in all things, except for vegetables—eat all the vegetables you like.